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Also in Chapter 3, a series of maps illustrate OverallUse Support in the watershed, as well as UseSupport for the individual uses of Fish and AquaticLife Support, Recreation, Irrigation, and LivestockWatering and Wildlife. Another series of mapsillustrate streams that are listed for impairment byspecific causes (pollutants) such as Pathogens,Habitat Alteration and Siltation.Point and Nonpoint Sources are addressed inChapter 4, which is organized by HUC-10subwatersheds. Maps illustrating the locations ofSTORET monitoring sites and USGS streamgauging stations are presented in eachsubwatershed.partnerships between agencies and betweenagencies and landowners that are essential tosuccess. Programs of federal agencies (NaturalResources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish andWildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey,Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S.D.A. ForestService), and state agencies (TDEC Division ofCommunity Assistance, TDEC Division of WaterSupply, Tennessee Department of Agriculture,North Carolina Department of Environment andNatural Resources) are summarized. Localinitiatives of active watershed organizations(Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition) are alsodescribed.Point and Nonpoint source approaches to waterquality problems in the Hiwassee River Watershedare addressed in Chapter 6. Chapter 6 also includescomments received during public meetings, alongwith an assessment of needs for the watershed.The full Hiwassee River Watershed Water .tn.us/environment/wpc/watershed/wsmplans/.HUC-10 Subwatersheds in the Tennessee portion of theHiwassee River Watershed.Point source contributions to the Hiwassee RiverWatershed consist of 14 individual NPDESpermitted facilities, seven of which discharge intostreams that have been listed on the 1998 303(d)list. Other point source permits in the watershed areAquatic Resource Alteration Permits (15),Tennessee Multi-Sector Permits (78), MiningPermits (6), and Water Treatment Plant Permits (1).Agricultural operations include cattle, chicken, hog,and sheep farming. Maps illustrating the locationsof NPDES and ARAP permit sites are presented ineach subwatershed.Chapter 5 is entitled Water Quality Partnerships inthe Hiwassee River Watershed and highlights

Chapter 1CHAPTER 1WATERSHED APPROACH TO WATER QUALITY1.1Background1.2Watershed Approach to Water Quality1.2.A. Components of the Watershed Approach1.2.B. Benefits of the Watershed Approach1.1 BACKGROUND. The Division of Water Pollution Control is responsible foradministration of the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act of 1977 (TCA 69 3 101).Information about the Division of Water Pollution Control, updates and announcements,may be found at http://www.state.tn.us/environment/wpc/index.html, and a summary ofthe organization of the Division of Water Pollution Control may be found in Appendix I.The mission of the Division of Water Pollution Control is to abate existing pollution of thewaters of Tennessee, to reclaim polluted waters, to prevent the future pollution of thewaters, and to plan for the future use of the waters so that the water resources ofTennessee might be used and enjoyed to the fullest extent consistent with themaintenance of unpolluted waters.The Division monitors, analyzes, and reports on the quality of Tennessee's water. Inorder to perform these tasks more effectively, the Division adopted a WatershedApproach to Water Quality in 1996.This Chapter summarizes TDEC's Watershed Approach to Water Quality.1.2 WATERSHED APPROACH TO WATER QUALITY. The Watershed Approach toWater Quality is a coordinating framework designed to protect and restore aquaticsystems and protect human health more effectively (EPA841-R-95-003). The Approachis based on the concept that many water quality problems, like the accumulation ofpollutants or nonpoint source pollution, are best addressed at the watershed level. Inaddition, a watershed focus helps identify the most cost-effective pollution controlstrategies to meet clean water goals. Tennessee’s Watershed Approach, updates 1.htm.1

Chapter 1Watersheds are appropriate as organizational units because they are readily identifiablelandscape units with readily identifiable boundaries that integrate terrestrial, aquatic, andgeologic processes. Focusing on the whole watershed helps reach the best balanceamong efforts to control point source pollution and polluted runoff as well as protectdrinking water sources and sensitive natural resources such as wetlands (EPA-840-R98-001).Four main features are typical of the Watershed Approach: 1) Identifying and prioritizingwater quality problems in the watershed, 2) Developing increased public involvement, 3)Coordinating activities with other agencies, and 4) Measuring success through increasedand more efficient monitoring and other data gathering.Typically, the Watershed Approach meets the following description (EPA841-R-95-003): Features watersheds or basins as the basic management unitsTargets priority subwatersheds for management actionAddresses all significant point and nonpoint sources of pollutionAddresses all significant pollutantsSets clear and achievable goalsInvolves the local citizenry in all stages of the programUses the resources and expertise of multiple agenciesIs not limited by any single agency’s responsibilitiesConsiders public health issuesAn additional characteristic of the Watershed Approach is that it complements otherenvironmental activities. This allows for close cooperation with other state agencies andlocal governments as well as with federal agencies such as the Tennessee ValleyAuthority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Agriculture (e.g.,Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Forest Service), U.S.Department of the Interior (e.g. United States Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and WildlifeService, National Park Service). When all permitted dischargers are consideredtogether, agencies are better able to focus on those controls necessary to producemeasurable improvements in water quality. This also results in a more efficient process:It encourages agencies to focus staff and financial resources on prioritized geographiclocations and makes it easier to coordinate between agencies and individuals with aninterest in solving water quality problems (EPA841-R-003).The Watershed Approach is not a regulatory program or a new EPA mandate; rather it isa decision making process that reflects a common strategy for information collection andanalysis as well as a common understanding of the roles, priorities, and responsibilitiesof all stakeholders within a watershed. The Watershed Approach utilizes featuresalready in state and federal law, including: Water Quality StandardsNational Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)Clean Lakes ProgramNonpoint Source ProgramGroundwater Protection2

Chapter 1Traditional activities like permitting, planning, and monitoring are also coordinated in theWatershed Approach. A significant change from the past, however, is that theWatershed Approach encourages integration of traditional regulatory (point sourcepollution) and nonregulatory (nonpoint sources of pollution) programs. There areadditional changes from the past as well:THE PASTWATERSHED APPROACHFocus on fixed-station ambient monitoringFocus on comprehensive watershed monitoringFocus on pollutant discharge sitesFocus on watershed-wide effectsFocus on WPC programsFocus on coordination and cooperationFocus on point sources of pollutionFocus on all sources of pollutionFocus on dischargers as the problemFocus on dischargers as an integral part of the solutionFocus on short-term problemsFocus on long-term solutionsTable 1-1. Contrast Between the Watershed Approach and the Past.This approach places greater emphasis on all aspects of water quality, includingchemical water quality (conventional pollutants, toxic pollutants), physical water quality(temperature, flow), habitat quality (channel morphology, composition and health ofbenthic communities), and biodiversity (species abundance, species richness).1.2.A. Components of the Watershed Approach. Tennessee is composed of fifty-fivewatersheds corresponding to the 8-digit USGS Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUC-8). Thesewatersheds, which serve as geographic management units, are combined in five groupsaccording to year of implementation.Figure 1-1. Watershed Groups in Tennessee’s Watershed Approach to Water Quality.3

Chapter 1Each year, TDEC conducts monitoring in one-fifth of Tennessee’s watersheds;assessment, priority setting and follow-up monitoring are conducted in another one fifthof watersheds; modeling and TMDL studies in another one fifth; developingmanagement plans in another one fifth; and implementing management plans in anotherone fifth of NNESSEE1NonconnahSouth Fork Forked DeerHarpethStonesConasaugaEmoryOcoeeWataugaWatts Bar2LoosahatchieMiddle Fork Forked DeerNorth Fork Forked DeerCaney ForkCollinsLower ElkPickwick LakeUpper ElkWheeler LakeFort LoudounHiwasseeSouth Fork Holston (Upper)Wheeler Lake3Tennessee Western Valley (Beech River)Tennessee Western Valley (KY Lake)Wolf RiverBuffaloLower DuckUpper DuckLittle TennesseeLower ClinchNorth Fork HolstonSouth Fork Holston (Lower)Tennessee (Upper)4Lower HatchieUpper HatchieBarrenObeyRedUpper Cumberland(Cordell Hull Lake)Upper Cumberland(Old Hickory Lake)Upper Cumberland(Cumberland Lake)HolstonPowellSouth Fork CumberlandTennessee (Lower)Upper ClinchUpper Cumberland(Clear Fork)5MississippiNorth Fork ObionSouth Fork ObionGuntersville LakeLower Cumberland(Cheatham Lake)Lower Cumberland(Lake Barkley)Lower French BroadNolichuckyPigeonUpper French BroadTable 1-2. Watershed Groups in Tennessee’s Watershed Approach.4

Chapter 1In succeeding years of the cycle, efforts rotate among the watershed groups. Theactivities in the five year cycle provide a reference for all stakeholders.Figure 1-2. The Watershed Approach Cycle.5

Chapter 1The six key activities that take place during the cycle are:1. Planning and Existing Data Review. Existing data and reports fromappropriate agencies and organizations are compiled and used to describethe current conditions and status of rivers and streams. Reviewing all existingdata and comparing agencies’ work plans guide the development of aneffective monitoring strategy.2. Monitoring. Field data is collected for streams in the watershed. These datasupplement existing data and are used for the water quality assessment.3. Assessment. Monitoring data are used to determine the status of the stream’sdesignated use supports.4. Wasteload Allocation/TMDL Development. Monitoring data are used todetermine nonpoint source contributions and pollutant loads for permitteddischargers releasing wastewater to the watershed. Limits are set to assurethat water quality is protected.5. Permits. Issuance and expiration of all discharge permits aresynchronized based on watersheds. Currently, 1700 permits havebeen issued in Tennessee under the federally delegated National PollutantDischarge Elimination System (NPDES).6. Watershed Management Plans. These plans include information for eachwatershed including general watershed description, water quality goals, majorwater quality concerns and issues, and management strategies.Public participation opportunities occur throughout the entire five year cycle.Participation in Years 1, 3 and 5 is emphasized, although additional meetings are held atstakeholder’s request. People tend to participate more readily and actively in protectingthe quality of waters in areas where they live and work, and have some roles andresponsibilities: Data sharingIdentification of water quality stressorsParticipation in public meetingsCommenting on management plansShared commitment for plan implementation6

Chapter 11.2.B. Benefits of the Watershed Approach. The Watershed Approach fosters a betterunderstanding of the physical, chemical and biological effects on a watershed, therebyallowing agencies and citizens to focus on those solutions most likely to be effective.The Approach recognizes the need for a comprehensive, ecosystem-based approachthat depends on local governments and local citizens for success (EPA841-R-95-004).On a larger scale, many lessons integrating public participation with aquatic ecosystembased programs have been learned in the successful Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes,Clean Lakes, and National Estuary Programs.Benefits of the Watershed Approach include (EPA841-R-95-004): Focus on water quality goals and ecological integrity rather than on programactivities such as number of permits issued. Improve basis for management decisions through consideration of both pointand nonpoint source stressors. A watershed strategy improves the scientificbasis for decision making and focuses management efforts on basins andwatersheds where they are most needed. Both point and nonpoint controlstrategies are more effective under a watershed approach because theApproach promotes timely and focused development of TMDLs. Enhance program efficiency, as the focus becomes watershed. A watershedfocus can improve the efficiency of water management programs byfacilitating consolidation of programs within each watershed. For example,handling all point source dischargers in a watershed at the same timereduces administrative costs due to the potential to combine hearings andnotices as well as allowing staff to focus on more limited areas in a sequentialfashion. Improve coordination between federal, state and local agencies includingdata sharing and pooling of resources. As the focus shifts to watersheds,agencies are better able to participate in data sharing and coordinatedassessment and control strategies. Increase public involvement. The Watershed Approach provides opportunitiesfor stakeholders to increase their awareness of water-related issues andinform staff about their knowledge of the watershed. Participation is via threepublic meetings over the five-year watershed management cycle as well asmeetings at stakeholder’s request. Additional opportunities are providedthrough the Department of Environment and Conservation homepage anddirect contact with local Environmental Assistance Centers. Greater consistency and responsiveness. Developing goals and managementplans for a basin or watershed with stakeholder involvement results inincreased responsiveness to the public and consistency in determiningmanagement actions. In return, stakeholders can expect improvedconsistency and continuity in decisions when management actions follow awatershed plan.7

Chapter 1Additional benefits of working at the watershed level are described in the Clean http://www.cleanwater.gov/action/toc.html.The Watershed Approach represents awareness that restoring and maintaining ourwaters requires crossing traditional barriers (point vs. nonpoint sources of pollution)when designing solutions. These solutions increasingly rely on participation by bothpublic and private sectors, where citizens, elected officials and technical personnel allhave opportunity to participate. This integrated approach mirrors the complicatedrelationships in which people live, work and recreate in the watershed, and suggests acomprehensive, watershed-based and community-based approach is needed to addressthese (EPA841-R-97-005).8

Hiwassee River Watershed-Chapter 2Revised 2003DRAFTCHAPTER 2DESCRIPTION OF THE HIWASSEE RIVER WATERSHED2.1.Background2.2.Description of the Watershed2.2.A. General Location2.2.B. Population Density Centers2.3.General Hydrologic Description2.3.A. Hydrology2.3.B. Dams2.4.Land Use2.5.Ecoregions and Reference Streams2.6.Natural Resources2.6.A. Rare Plants and Animals2.6.B. Wetlands2.7.Cultural Resources2.7.A. State Scenic River2.7.B. Nationwide Rivers Inventory2.7.C. Greenways2.7.D. Interpretive Areas2.7.E. Wildlife Management Area2.8.Tennessee Rivers Assessment Project2.1. BACKGROUND. The name “Hiwassee” is taken from the Cherokee word “AyeHawsasi”, which means “meadow along the stream.” The area is characterized byforested slopes, high gradient, clear streams, and rugged terrain. There is great aquatichabitat diversity in the watershed.Part of the Hiwassee River is included in the State Scenic River System due to its scenicand pastoral nature. The Hiwassee was the first river managed in the State ScenicRiver Program. The many river outfitters along the Hiwassee River indicate itspopularity among recreational boaters. Hunting and fishing are popular in the CherokeeNational Forest.This Chapter describes the location and characteristics of the Hiwassee RiverWatershed.1

Hiwassee River Watershed-Chapter 2Revised 2003DRAFT2.2. DESCRIPTION OF THE WATERSHED.2.2.A. General Location. The Hiwassee River Watershed is located in East Tennesseeand North Carolina. The Tennessee portion includes parts of Bradley, Hamilton,McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, and Polk Counties.Figure 2-1. General Location of the Hiwassee River Watershed.COUNTY% OF WATERSHED IN EACH oe12.3Polk19.0Table 2-1. The Hiwassee River Watershed Includes Parts of Six East Tennessee Counties.2

Hiwassee River Watershed-Chapter 2Revised 2003DRAFT2.2.B. Population Density Centers. Eight state highways and two interstates serve themajor communities in the Hiwassee River Watershed.Figure 2-2. Municipalities and Roads in the Tennessee Portion of the Hiwassee radleyCalhoun575McMinnTable 2-2. Municipalities in the Tennessee Portion of the Hiwassee River Watershed.Population based on 1996 census (Tennessee Blue Book). Asterisk (*) indicates county seat.2.3. GENERAL HYDROLOGIC DESCRIPTION.3

Hiwassee River Watershed-Chapter 2Revised 2003DRAFT2.3.A. Hydrology. The Hiwassee River Watershed, designated 06020002 by the USGS,drains approximately 2,099 square miles, 1,011 square miles of which are in Tennessee,and empties to Chickamauga Reservoir (Tennessee River).Figure 2-3. The Hiwassee River Watershed is Part of the Tennessee River Basin.4

Hiwassee River Watershed-Chapter 2Revised 2003DRAFTFigure 2-4. Hydrology in the Tennessee Portion of the Hiwassee River Watershed. Thereare 3,113 total stream miles recorded in River Reach File 3 in the Hiwassee River Watershed.1,657 stream miles are recorded in Tennessee. Location of the Hiwassee River, ChickamaugaLake, and the cities of Cleveland, Etowah, and Niota are shown for reference.5

Hiwassee River Watershed-Chapter 2Revised 2003DRAFT2.3.B. Dams. There are 24 dams inventoried by TDEC Division of Water Supply in theHiwassee River Watershed. These dams either retain 30 acre-feet of water or havestructures at least 20 feet high.Figure 2-5. Location of Inventoried Dams in the Tennessee Portion of the Hiwassee RiverWatershed. More information is provided in Hiwassee-Appendix II and on the TDEC homepageat http://gw

Watershed Approach. A detailed description of the watershed can be found in Chapter 2. The Tennessee Portion of the Hiwassee River Watershed is approximately 1,011 square miles and includes parts of six Tennessee counties. A part of the Tennessee River drainage basin, the watershed has 1,657 stream miles. Evergreen Forest 19.3% Emergent Herbaceous